Perpetual calendars hold profound significance in the world of Patek Philippe, representing the pinnacle of technical prowess and precision in watchmaking. These intricate mechanisms, capable of automatically adjusting for months with different numbers of days and leap years, exemplify Patek Philippe's commitment to combining horological excellence with practical functionality.

Patek Philippe’s reference 1526 was first introduced in 1941 and remained in production until 1952. It is estimated that only 210 examples were produced within this twelve year run. With a sole exception in stainless steel, the majority of the examples are predominantly in yellow gold and a fraction in pink gold.

The simplicity of the “Calatrava” style case and serene silver dial is counterbalanced by the magnificently hand decorated movement that mechanically calculates the length of each month throughout the year, while also accounting for leap years. The present example is preserved in lovely condition considering its age. It has developed an attractive patina on the case while its hallmarks remain intact. As a the world’s first serially-produced perpetual calendar wristwatch, this important reference should certainly be considered by collectors who wish to own a milestone reference of Patek Philippe’s history.